Guide with a Cause by Chester Moore

Chuck Cobb is a police officer. He served his country in the United States Marine Corps. And now he is a fishing guide.

A lifelong bass fishermen who specializes in Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn he said fishing has given him peace during times when peace was hard to come by.

“Fishing has always been a way to find balance. It has always been a place to go and forget about the struggles, the ups and downs of life. And it has always been a passion of mine,” Cobb said.

That passion has recently found purpose as Cobb has founded Veteran’s Guide Service, which will give discounts to active duty military and veterans as well as seek out opportunities to take wounded veterans on trips for free.

At the time of this writing he was still ironing out the details of that, but has been looking for a sponsor for a monthly trip for a very special veteran.

“I’m a veteran and a police officer so I get the struggles these men and women go through. Fishing is a great way to release and also to bond so I look forward to not only getting out on the water with veterans but also all fishing lovers,” Cobb said.

Perhaps the most special part of his guide service is the testimonies.

Cobb recently purchased a GoPro and at the end of trips with veterans will take it out for them to share their story with others who may be struggling.

“I want veterans to know they are not alone so we will be sharing them on the Veteran’s Guide Service Facebook. It’s important these veterans know they are not alone and I think this is one way we can accomplish that,” Cobb said.

Cobb is not only a veteran’s advocate, but also a very good fisherman. With a “local” knowledge of Texas’s top two bass lakes, he plans on spending lots of time there and putting many anglers onto the big bass contained therein.

To contact Chuck Cobb visit his website, veteransguideservice.com.

Testiment

The first testimony in Cobb’s boat was of a soldier veteran who is no longer with us.

Master Sergeant Timothy Hankins

One of Cobb’s West Orange police force colleagues, Dennis Hankins, lost his son, Master Sergeant Timothy Hankins, last year. His story is one of struggle that thousand of veterans are facing and is a powerful testimony that will bring tears to anyone’s eyes.

Hankins served in the Unites States Army for 19 years and the Texas National Guard for two years.

According to his obituary in the Beaumont Enterprise, his tours of duty include Iraq, Afghanistan, Italy, England, Scotland, Haiti, and others. He served in the 82nd Airborne as a jumpmaster and later became a member of the Green Beret as a Weapons Specialist.

“During his service received multiple awards including two Bronze Star Medals, Purple Heart, six Army Commendation Medals, eight Army Achievement Medals, six Army good conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, four Afghanistan Campaign Medals with Bronze Service Star, three Iraq Campaign Medals with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, three Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbons, Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, NATO Medal, Multinational Force and Observers Medal, Right Side Awards, Presidential Unit Citation (Army and Air Force), Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Army Superior Unit Award, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Basic Parachutist Badge, Badge Combat and Special Skill Badge Marksmanship Qualification Badge, Expert, Bar, Weapon: Rifle (Inscription: Rifle), Special Forces Tab, and six Overseas Service Bars.

More than that Master Sergeant Timothy Hankins was a father, son and war hero who saw some of the most intense action in the Middle Eastern combat theater.